Recording and indicating device for multiple payments.



B. J.' STELLWAGBN. RECORDING AND INDIGATI NG DEVICE FOR MULTIPLEPAYMENTS.

APPLIGATIONIILED IBBHIS, 1912.

1,088,225. Patented Sept. 10, 1912,

' parts broken away.

BENJAMIN J. STELLAWAGEN, 0F CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

RECORDIN AND INDICATING DEVICE FOR.' MULTIPLE PAYMENTS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Sept. 10, 1912.

Application mea February 23, 1912. serial No. 679,481..

To all 'whom 'it may concern:

Be it known that I, BENJAMIN J. STELL` WAGEN, a citizen of the UnitedStates,.re siding at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State ofIllinois, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement inRecording and Indicating Devices for Multiple Payments, of which thefollowing is a specification. A

This invention relates 'to a new and useful improvement in recording andindicating devices for multiple payments, and is particularly adaptedfor use in handling and making a record of transactions where a numberof people make a series of payments :1t-.stated intervals.

Referring now to the accompanying drawings, I have illustrated one formof the device embodying the invention arranged for a particular use,wherein- Figure 1 is a front view of the device with Fig. 2 is asectional view taken on line 2 2 of Fig. 1. F ig. 3 is a sectional viewtaken on line 3 3 ofFig. 1f

Fig. 4 is a sectional view taken on line 4-4 of Fig. 1. Fig. 5 is a rearview of the piece shown at the extreme left of Fig. 1. Fig. 6 is anenlarged view with parts broken away of' the upper end of the deviceshown in Fig. 1.v

Like letters refer to like parts throughout the several figures.

The device illustrated in the drawings is constructed, arranged andmarked to be used in cases where there are a number of people, forexample, to make payments at certain stated intervals, .each paymentbeing of the same amount. In order to more thoroughly indicate the scopeof this device, the construction illustrated is arranged to meet .acondition such as contributions to achurch or the like where thereare anumber of iudividuals who contribute a small amount each week. Underthese conditions, each individual'is given an identification mark, suchas a number. A space or a column A is arranged for these numbers, therebeing one number toa line'. At the time the promise to make the paymentsis made, each individual is given a number of .envelops equal to thenumber of payments to be made in a given period. It', for example, thepayments are to be made monthly, each individual would have twelveenvelops for the period say to run one year. If the payments are to bemade weekly, each individual would yhave fiftytwo envelops. All theenvelops given to one individual would have his identification markthereon. In the present case, these identification marks are thenumerals 1, 2, 3, etc. each with the contribution of one individualtherein are depositedweekly or at any other stated interval and arecollected in any desired manner and brought to the device. This devicehas a column or spaCeB with a series of pockets B1 (seeFigs. 1 and 3),there being a pocket opposite each identification mark, that is, apocket for each'contributor. The envelops B3 of the contributors areplaced in these pockets (see Fig. 3). On one side of thecolumn or spacecontain-` ing these pockets is a column or space C containing a seriesof numbers, which des'- ignate the number of payments to be made in theyear or other given period. As shown in Fig. 6, these figures run from 1to 10, and there are five' sets of them .opposite each identificationmark so that the device can be arranged for weekly payments through theperiod of one year as hereinafter explained.-y On the other side of thecolumn or space B isl a column or space D in which is placed on the sameline as the identification mark of the contributor, the amount of eachpayment he is to make. In Fig. 6, contributor 1 is to pay twenty centsper week, contributor 2 is to pay ten cents per week, contributor 3 isto pay five cents per week and so forth. There is also provided a columnor space E which contains a series of multiples of the amount in coluinnD for the purpose of making it easy to determme the amount that has beenpaid in at any given time. In the particular form illust-rated, thereare placed at one side of the column a series of figuresfrom 1 to 12 andassociated with thesefigures (herein shown located above them) is theproduct of such number multiplied by the amount of each payment asindicated in column D. By using`the numbers from 1 to 12, it permits thesame device to be used for weekly or monthly payments. This column isalso provided with the figures 20, 30, 40 and50, there being locatedabove them the product These envelops of the number by the amount of thepayments as shown in column D. This adapts the device to be used inconnection with Weekly payments. It is of course evident that theparticular number of multiples used might be varied and I have simplyshown a particular number with a view of more clearly describing the useand operation of the device.

I have shown a device arranged with identification marks, pockets, etc.for fifty contributors. If there is a larger number of contributors, thedevice may be made larger or several devices may be used or the devicemay be made adjustable. The particular construction is shown asadjustable. In this construction, the piece containing the column A forthe identification marks 1s removably connected with `the rest of thedevice and is held in place by a pin A1 at the bottom and a hook A2 atthe top, said hook engaging a staple A3. The back of this ieee isprovided with a second series of identification marks as shown in Fig.5. If there are more contributors, then any number of additional piecesmay be used, the identification marks being placed thereon and runningas high as necessary. The Space or column C as herein shown may conslstof a removable piece of cardboard or the like which is slipped inbetween guides C1 (see Figs. 1 and 2) so that it can be moved out at thetop and replaced by another column. The columns D and E preferablconsist of removable pieces of cardboar For simplicity of construction,I prefer to divide these columns up into sections, there being a sectionfor each contributor, each section containing the amount of the paymentand the table made up of a series of multiples thereof. These pieces ofcardboard are held in place by guides D1 and E2 so that the columns maybe replaced by others for a different set of contributors at the end ofthe month, year or other period covered. By making separate pieces foreach contributor, these pieces may be printed and kept in stock and willthen be 'easily and quickly delivered so as to make up the completecolumns for any desired variation in amounts contributed. As hereinshown, the cardboard for the columns C and for the columns D and E areconnected with removable pieces carrying the guides C1, D1, and El.These removable pieces are preferably rovided with bent ends G whichengage the ack piece G1, so that the entire device can be removed andreplaced by others in case the same series of receptacles are to be usedwith a number of contributors larger than the number of envelopreceptacles.

The use and operation of my invention are as follows: lVhen the envelopsare handed in containing the contributions or amounts paid, they areassorted and arranged in the pockets B1 opposite the identification markof theV contributor. It often happens, for example, that a contributorwill make several contributions at one time instead of making one ateach period. In that event, he may place each contribution in an envelopan deposit several envelops or he may place the several contributions inone enevelop and deposit a number of envelops equal to the number ofcontributions. Each depositor is instructed to always deposit a numberof envelops equal to the number of payments he makes so that all of theenvelops will be properly accounted for. All of the envelops of anygiven contributor deposited at one time are placed inthe pocket oppositehis identification mark. After the envelops have been placed in theirproper receptacles, the party in charge takes the envelop or envelopsout of thefirst column (preferably Working from the top down so as to beable to filix the envelops in numerical rotation) and counis them ifthere are more than one. He then marks on the first envelop the amountwhich contributor 1 has contributed. If there is one envelop he finds hetakes this amount from column D, which in the ease of contributor l is20 cents. If there should be more than one envelop, say for example six,he turns to column E and above the nulltiplier G, he sees the product$1.20, which amount he records on the top envelop to show that theseries of envelops must contain, according to the pledge, thisparticular amount. He then credits the receipt of the six envelops incolumn C by placing a mark back of the sixth figure opposite contributor1 identification mark, or if.a num ber of envelops have previously beenhanded in, he locates such number in column C and then places a similarmark'after the sixth figure ahead of this last mark. It is of courseevident that one man can do the entire work if desired when only onerecord is made, that is, the record on the device. I prefer to have atleast one assistant, who may be the treasurer. The first party in thiscase then hands the envelop to the treasurer and he opens the envelopsand counts the money to see if it corresponds with the figures placed onthe envelop by the first party. By this means, the second party checksthe first party and if there is any error, it is caught and thecontributor is notified. It

it is desired to make a second record in a book, there will be a thirdarty who would be the book-keeper. The rst party or the treasurer,preferably the latter, would then call out the identification mark ofthe con tributor and the number of envelops of' this particularcontributor, which figures the book-keeper inserts in his book. In orderto more carefully check up the matter and get a maximum speed, a fourthparty may be used, the rst party handing the envelops to the fourthparty who calls out the information for the book-keeper and then handsthe envelops to the treasurer. If when the treasurer counts the money,there is any discrepancy. the book-keeper can make a note thereof andthe contributor can then be notified. Every week, month or other periodswhen the payments are made, the same operation is repeated. If only onedevice is used with a large number of contributors or depositors, thevarious columns A, C, D and l() are removed and different ones placed inthe device for the different sets of contributors. Suppose now after anumber of payments have been made, it is desired to find out what anycertain contributor has paid in, say, for example, contributor 1, it isonly necessary in such event to look at column C and note the lastnumber, after which there is a dash or other mark made by arty No. l whohas been removing the enve ops from the pockets B1. If, for example, thelast number having this mark should be figure 1 in the second row offigures opposite the identification mark No. 1, this would indicate thatcontributor l had made payments equal to 10 plus 1, that is elevenpayments. Column E is then examined and the number above the figure 11,namely $2.20 indicates the full amount paid in by contributor No. 1 upto this time. If for example in looking at column C it was found thatthe last number having a mark after itwas N'o. 6 in the third row, thiswould indicate that contributor l had up to that time-'made twenty-sixpayments. Column E is then consulted'and it is noted that above thefigure 20 is the amount $4.00, and above the figure 6 is the amount$1.20, and hence the total amount is $5.20. It will be seen that bymeans of this device, the total amount paid in by any given contributorat any viven time may be easily and quickly read lfrom the device. Whenthe device is rarranged as shown in the drawings where there are onlyfifty numbers in column C for each contributor and the contributions areweekly so that there will be fifty-two per year, the last two envelopsma be designated by two letters X as in icated in Fig. 1 opposite theidentification mark of contributor 1. If therefore a complete record isrequired at any time, such complete record can be made easily andquickly by simply consulting the device as above set out. The importanceof this feature will be readily ascertained when it is remembered thatif it were necessary to examine a book to find out these payments itwould be necessary to look on twenty-six different pages when twenty-sixpayments had been made and add u.' these twenty-six amounts. The amounto time therefore saved by means of the use of my present device is verygreat, and inj addition to' this,r eat accuracy is secured.` I find thatby t e use of my device, these contributions may be recorded and countedand disposed of in one fourth of thetime or less than that requiredunder the ordinary methods. The various envelops of the contributors maybe filed away in any desired manner for future reference.

I claim:

1. A recording and indicating device for multiple payments comprising aseries of receptacles into which envelops containing the payments aredeposited, an identification mark for each contributor located oppositeeach receptacle, 'means opposite each receptacle for designating thenumber of envelops which have been deposited in each receptacle and anumber op osite each receptacle showing the amount o each payment.

2. A recording and indicating device for multiple payments comprising aseries of receptacles into which envelops containing the payments aredeposited, an identification mark for each contributor located oppositeeach receptacle, means opposite each receptacle for designating thenumber of envelops which have been deposited in each receptacle, anumber op osite each receptacle showing the amount oi) each payment anda table opposite each receptacle made up of a series of multiples of thesaid payment.

3. A recording and indicating device for multiple payments comprising acolumn or space fora series of identification marks for the contributor,a column for recording the number of payments made` by each contributor,a column containing a series of envelop-.receiving receptacles forreceiving the envelo s containing the payments and a column or thestated amount to be paid at each payment.

4. A recording and indicating device for multiple payments comprising acolumn or space for al eries of identiication marks for the contributor,a column for recording the number of payments made by each contributor,a column containing a ,series ofxenvelop-receiving receptacles forreceivln the envelo s containln the payments an a column For the stated`amount to be paid at each payment, the columns for the identiicationmarks and the number of payments and the stated amount being removableso kthat the same envelop-receiving spaces may be used with a serles ofsuchcolumns.

5. A recording and indicating device for multiple payments comprising aseries of envelop-recelving receptacles for receiving the envelops inwhich the payments are made, means associated with said envelopreceivingreceptacles for identifying the contributor and for indicating thenumber of payments made and the amount of each payment and :1 tableopposite each envelop made up of a numbel` of multiples of the amountthecontributor its to puy Whose envelops are placed in such pocket wherebytlfie total amount paid may be easily rend o Signedat Chicago, Illinois,this 21st day of February, 1912.

BENJAMIN J. STELLWAGEN.

Witnesses:

FRANCIS W. PARKER, J 1'., GENEVA HmTH.

